My mother does make me laugh

[meriad]

but not in a kind of way more a

on the phone to her earlier on and she mentioned she was posting a parcel for Thomas and Amelia with their Christmas gift. So I told her to save some postage and send it to my sister (also in Germany) as I'll be there this weekend anyway so I can bring it back to the UK with me; which she happily did. During this conversation she also mentioned that there wasn't a gift for Karl or Nadine or for me and that hope we're not upset but we're getting just a card. Of course not a problem - never has been and never will be...

1 hour later she calls me back to confirm parcel has been sent and we get talking Christmas again and she proceeds to tell me that she's quite pleased as she thinks she's now done all her Christmas shopping. "All the grandchildren are sorted, she's checked with Frank (my brother) a while back but he didn't want anything for Christmas so isn't getting anything from her; she's spoken to Klaus - other brother in SA - and made the usual arrangement of money as a gift so he can (as in past years) buy the Christmas roast they have every year. And oh yes, Anne (my sister) she is also getting money for a roast - so yes; everyone sorted and she can now look forward to visiting my sister. Well now...

Anne I totally understand as mom is with them for Christmas (for just over a week), but even then - it really is more mom's contribution to the Christmas meal and a thank you for having her - than a Christmas gift as such if you think about it. But Klaus and Frank - just what makes them so special ? Admittedly Frank said no but I can guarantee that if he hadn't said no he too would have ended up with a Christmas roast bought for him.

Sigh... got to love mom.

And just to confirm - I really really don't mind the others getting a roast but this did make me giggle







As said, I promise it really really doesn't bug me that we're not getting anything this end but I just do wonder at the

[saundra]

Ho dear ria I know you don't seem to mind about not getting a gift of your mum but it makes me sad that it's xmas and yes it can be expensive but I wouldn't dream of not buying for my boys I know my family isent large but it seems to expand every year
And there are 52weeks in a year to save just a bit towards it
Have a massive hug
This year instead of buying my grandchildren chocolate as well as present iv just given each family a tin of quality street between them


Well my tree is up and decorated

[Kaz]

I don't really know Ria, but one thing did occur to me - do you and Karl and Nadine see your mum more often than the SA side of the family? If so, maybe your mum feels she needs to 'do' more, for them, in some way? I might be totally off beam here of course, as it has been known

((((((x))))))

[Workingman]

Aww (((((Ria))))) the fact that you have shared it with us means that it must have got to you, even if only a teeny bit.

Maybe Kaz has it. You, Karl and Nadine are on-the-doorstep, so to speak, and as many of us were saying on the other thread, we do tend to drop buying presents after a certain age.

[meriad]

Frank -I promise, I'm really really not fussed or upset; I just giggle and raise my eyebrows at her "logic". Believe you me, if you want upset I'll give you upset Like last year for my birthday when I sent money to her to buy me a few things because my brother was coming over with his car and therefore could bring back these heavier things for me. One of the items I wanted was a specific deodorant and she then figured it would be a perfectly good idea to not take my money for said deodorant but gift it to me for my birthday present - hmmmm..... I managed to politely decline that. I ended up with Coffee instead

Saundra - we're quite a big family (by the time you add the in-laws and children) and because we don't really live all that close so each other (ie expensive and unreliable postage) we many years ago agreed that we'd only do gift giving for the people we're actually spending Christmas with. The only exception to that is that my sister and I usually buy something small for each other and regardless of who she's spending Christmas with we always get something for my mom. But generally we keep gift giving at Christmas very low key; that's family time. Birthdays are the bigger focus for gifts

Kaz, mom sadly really doesn't get to see the family in SA much at all; distance, costs of flights and also ability to take leave on their side are all factors. But she and my sister are flying over next year as my niece (Klaus's eldest daugher) is getting married. But other than that the last time mom (or any of us) saw Klaus would have been last year May. But then saying that; that's the last time I saw my sister in Germany as well (hence over uber excited to be seeing her this weekend - so cannot wait!)

[Workingman]

Frank -I promise, I'm really really not fussed or upset; I just giggle and raise my eyebrows at her "logic". Believe you me, if you want upset I'll give you upset

Nooo, that is the last thing I want.

Got to say, though, that a mum's logic is never to be argued with!

When I joined the RAF I did six weeks initial training, then six months trade training before being posted to my first RAF station... then I had to apply for some leave. I was never home during any of that time.

So, I get home and after a few days seeing all my old mates and cousins I decided to go for a bike ride. I had a super road bike, a Claud Butler, built from scratch by my dad and a neighbour just before dad died. So I go to the shed and there it was: gone!

Mum, where's my bike?
I sold it.
Why?
You weren't using it.

[meriad]

Mum, where's my bike?
I sold it.
Why?
You weren't using it.

big big oooops... bet you weren't best pleased!

[Workingman]

Actually her logic was on the right track. I was away from home. The RAF was about to take me to different places. And most importantly, I was in no way going to ride it from Leeds to Binbrook, near Grimsby.

But she could have asked and let me say 'goodbye' to it.